Moxibustion down-regulates colonic epithelial cell apoptosis and repairs tight junctions in rats with Crohn’s disease

Figure 1 Microstructure of rat colonic epithelial tissues in different groups. A, B: Normal group (6000 ×, 6000 ×); C, D: Model group (2500 ×, 2500 ×); E, F: Salicylazosulphapyridine group (6000 ×, 2500 ×); G, H: Mild-warm moxibustion group (12 000 ×, 12 000 ×); I, J: Herbs-partitioned moxibustion group (12 000 ×, 4000 ×).

Figure 2 Current flow of rat colonic epithelial cells in different groups. A: The current flow of the rat colonic epithelium; B: The electric resistance of the rat colonic epithelium. NC: Normal control; MC: Model control; SASP: Salicylazosulphapyridine group; MWM: Mild-warm moxibustion group; HPM: Herbs-partitioned moxibustion group. ^aP < 0.01 vs normal group; ^cP < 0.01 vs model group; ^eP < 0.01 vs SASP group.

Figure 3 Apoptosis of colonic epithelial cells. A: Normal group (100 ×); B: Model group (100 ×); C: Salicylazosulphapyridine group (100 ×); D: Mild-warm moxibustion group (100 ×); E: Herbs-partitioned moxibustion group (100 ×).

Figure 4 Expression of occludin, claudin-1 and zonula occludens-l in rat colonic epithelium. N: Normal group; M: Model group; X: Salicylazosulphapyridine group; W: Mild-warm moxibustion group; G: Herbs-partitioned moxibustion group.

Figure 5 Expression of occludin in rat colonic epithelium. A: Normal group; B: Model group; C: Salicylazosulphapyridine group; D: Mild-warm moxibustion group; E: Herbs-partitioned moxibustion group.

Figure 6 Expression of claudin-1 in rat colonic epithelium. A: Normal group; B: Model group; C: Salicylazosulphapyridine group; D: Mild-warm moxibustion group; E: Herbs-partitioned moxibustion group.

Figure 7 Expression of zonula occludens-l in rat colonic epithelium. A: Normal group; B: Model group; C: Salicylazosulphapyridine group; D: Mild-warm moxibustion group; E: Herbs-partitioned moxibustion group.